Movies About Black Dahlia

From David Fincher, starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Kevin Walker
Rated R

Se7en is a 1995 psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey. The film follows two detectives, William Somerset (Freeman) and David Mills (Pitt), as they investigate a series of horrific murders, each loosely inspired by one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Throughout the investigation, the detectives are relentlessly pursued by the mysterious and sinister John Doe (Spacey). As the detectives close in on John Doe and uncover the truth behind the killings, the film builds to an intense and shocking climax. Se7en is a gripping exploration of morality, justice and the human capacity for evil.

From Jonathan Demme, starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney, Kasi Lemmons
Rated R

The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller directed by Jonathan Demme and released in 1991. It stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee tasked with interviewing the notorious serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in order to understand the motivations of another serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). Dr. Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibal, assists Clarice in tracking down Buffalo Bill, while at the same time manipulating her into a game of psychological chess. As Clarice closes in on the killer, the tension and suspense build to a climax. In the end, Clarice is able to outwit both Dr. Lecter and Buffalo Bill, who are ultimately brought to justice. The Silence of the Lambs won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Demme, Best Actor for Hopkins, Best Actress for Foster, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally.

From Juan José Campanella, starring Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Carla Quevedo
Rated R

The Secret in Their Eyes is a 2009 Argentine-Spanish crime drama film directed by Juan José Campanella, based on the novel La pregunta de sus ojos (The Question in Their Eyes) by Eduardo Sacheri. It stars Ricardo Darín as Benjamin Esposito, a retired criminal court employee who decides to write a novel based on a twenty-five-year old unresolved rape and murder case that he worked on. He reopens the case and meets his former colleague Irene Menéndez Hastings (Soledad Villamil), with whom he falls in love. As he investigates the case, he discovers new clues and finds that his former boss, Irene's husband, may have been involved in a cover up. The film culminates in a dramatic courtroom scene in which the truth is finally revealed. The Secret in Their Eyes won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as numerous awards at other international film festivals.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Rated R

Shutter Island is an American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is set in 1954, and follows U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient from Ashecliffe Hospital, a hospital for the criminally insane located on Shutter Island. As Daniels and Aule search the island, they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving the hospital staff and its sinister experiments, as well as a dark past that has haunted the island for decades. As they delve deeper into the mystery, Daniels begins to doubt his own sanity and is forced to confront his inner demons. Ultimately, he must face the truth of what secrets lie on the mysterious Shutter Island.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Rated R

Fargo is a 1996 American dark comedy-crime drama film written, produced, and directed by the Coen brothers. The film stars Frances McDormand as a pregnant police chief in rural Minnesota, William H. Macy as a car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife in order to extort a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law, and Steve Buscemi as the bumbling kidnappers. As the plot unfolds, the hapless criminals end up in increasing danger as the police chief's dogged investigation starts to uncover the truth behind the kidnapping. Fargo is an acclaimed film that won several awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress for McDormand. It has since become a cult classic, praised for its sharp wit, dark humor, and thrilling plot.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological horror-thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky. The movie follows Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company, as she struggles with her own sanity while preparing for the role of the Swan Queen in a production of Swan Lake. Her journey is fraught with psychological and physical torment, as she and her rival dancer Lily (Mila Kunis) compete for the lead role. Along the way, Nina's mental state begins to deteriorate, making the distinction between reality and fantasy increasingly difficult. As her obsession with the role intensifies, she begins to have visions of a sinister and dark side of herself, ultimately leading her to become the perfect swan. The film showcases a stunning performance by Natalie Portman and is an intense exploration of the dark side of ambition, art, and the human psyche.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Emmy Rossum
Rated R

Mystic River is a 2003 American crime drama directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. It stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. The film follows three childhood friends—Jimmy, Sean, and Dave— whose lives are forever changed after one of them is abducted and abused as a child. As adults, they are reunited when one of their daughters is brutally murdered. The film follows the three friends as they attempt to uncover the truth behind the murder, while also dealing with their own pasts. As they do so, they uncover a complex web of secrets and lies that will have implications for them all.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a 1990 psychological thriller directed by Rob Reiner, based on the novel by Stephen King. Starring James Caan and Kathy Bates, the film follows novelist Paul Sheldon (Caan), who is rescued from a car accident by a crazed fan, Annie Wilkes (Bates). While he is recovering from his injuries at her secluded home, Annie holds him captive and forces him to write a novel that meets her expectations. As Paul attempts to escape, Annie's psychotic behavior becomes increasingly dangerous. Misery is a suspenseful and thrilling film that ultimately culminates in a gripping climax.

From David Fincher, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards
Rated R

Zodiac is a 2007 mystery-thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on the true story of the unsolved Zodiac Killer case in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 70s. The film follows cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he becomes obsessed with the case after the killer's letters to the San Francisco Chronicle and other Bay Area newspapers start to appear in 1969. He teams up with veteran crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and homicide inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) to uncover the identity of the killer, but all of their efforts are thwarted as the killer remains at large. The film also focuses on the psychological and emotional toll that the case takes on its investigators, and the tension and paranoia that it creates in the Bay Area. As the case grows colder, the investigators are left with more questions than answers.

From Brad Anderson, starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
Rated R

The Machinist is a psychological thriller about Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale), an insomniac factory worker who is slowly losing his grip on reality. After a series of mysterious accidents and strange coincidences, Trevor becomes convinced that someone is out to get him. He begins to unravel the secrets of his past, but his investigation leads him to a shocking discovery. As his paranoia and delusions become increasingly intense, Trevor is forced to confront his deepest fears and dark secrets. In the end, he must decide whether to accept the truth or keep living in his own twisted reality.

From Gregory Hoblit, starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney
Rated R

Primal Fear is a psychological thriller directed by Gregory Hoblit. The movie follows the story of a young altar boy, Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), who is accused of murdering an influential Catholic Archdiocese's Archbishop Rushman (Stanley Anderson). Despite the compelling evidence against him, Aaron's attorney, Martin Vail (Richard Gere), decides to take on his case. As the trial progresses, Vail begins to doubt Aaron's guilt and discovers a much deeper and more sinister conspiracy at play. With a riveting performance by Edward Norton, Primal Fear is a thrilling and thrilling exploration of justice, innocence and the power of perception.

From David Cronenberg, starring Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Josef Altin
Rated R

Eastern Promises is an intense crime drama directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen as a Russian mobster in London. The story follows Nikolai, a driver for the Russian mob, as he struggles to balance his commitment to the mob with his own moral code. As Nikolai navigates the dangerous criminal underworld of London, he develops a complicated relationship with a midwife who discovers a deadly secret tied to the Russian mob. The film follows the two as they delve deeper into the criminal underworld in search of justice. Along the way, Nikolai must confront the harsh realities of life in the mob and the consequences of his actions.

From John Patrick Shanley, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Rated PG-13

Doubt is a 2008 film directed by John Patrick Shanley. It stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. Set in 1964 in an Irish-Catholic Bronx school, it follows Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the strict principal of the parish school, as she begins to doubt one of her priests, Father Flynn, with regards to his interactions with a young African American student. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, Sister Aloysius believes Father Flynn is guilty of misconduct and begins her own investigation. With tensions between the school administration, faculty and the Church, Sister Aloysius must decide between her own moral convictions and the satisfaction of the Church and community.

From Tom Tykwer, starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, Francesc Albiol
Rated R

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a 2006 German period psychological crime thriller film directed by Tom Tykwer and starring Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Dustin Hoffman. It follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a perfumer with an exceptional sense of smell, who is driven to kill in order to create the perfect perfume. He travels through Paris in search of the perfect scent while evading the law and experiencing the fragrances of the people he meets along the way. The film is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind.

From Michael Haneke, starring Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering
Rated Not Rated

Funny Games is a 1997 German-language psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael Haneke. The story follows a family of three—Georg, Anna, and their son Georgie—as they are terrorized by two young men in their vacation home. The two men, Peter and Paul, are polite but increasingly violent as they attempt to psychologically torture the family in order to fulfill a perverse game. As the family attempts to maintain civility, the game takes a more sinister and damaging form, leading to a shocking conclusion. The film examines themes of power, control, and manipulation, pushing the audience to confront their own reactions to the violence.

From Alan Parker, starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Cleo King
Rated R

The Life of David Gale is a 2003 drama film directed by Alan Parker and starring Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney, and Kate Winslet. The film follows the story of David Gale (Spacey), a professor and death penalty opponent who has been convicted of the murder of his colleague and friend, Constance Harraway (Winslet). As Gale awaits his impending execution, investigative reporter Bitsey Bloom (Linney) attempts to uncover the truth behind the murder in an effort to free him. As she delves deeper into the case, she discovers a web of secrets and conspiracy that turns her world upside down and puts her own life in danger. In the end, Gale is exonerated when the truth behind the conspiracies is revealed and the real killer is identified.

From Michael Haneke, starring Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou, Annie Girardot
Rated R

From Patty Jenkins, starring Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen
Rated R

From Bruce A. Evans, starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, William Hurt, Dane Cook
Rated R

From James Mangold, starring John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes
Rated R

From Rian Johnson, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Emilie de Ravin, Meagan Good
Rated R

From Robert Altman, starring Maggie Smith, Ryan Phillippe, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas
Rated R

From Tony Gilroy, starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael O'Keefe
Rated R

From Gus Van Sant, starring Elias McConnell, Alex Frost, Eric Deulen, John Robinson
Rated R

From Courtney Hunt, starring Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe
Rated R